Plane wreckage found near Gilmer County

GILMER COUNTY, Ga. -- Crews have found a plane that disappeared in the north Georgia mountains, authorities said.

Wreckage from the plane was spotted by a Georgia State Patrol helicopter in a remote part of Gilmer County just after 3 p.m. Wednesday, officials said.

”I actually went up in the helicopter with GSP to survey the crash site, said Gilmer County Fire Department Chief Tony Pritchett.

Pritchett said authorities did not have information about potential survivors.

The group took off in a Beechcraft Bonanza from the Gilmer County Airport at 8:30 a.m. on Monday.

When the plane didn’t retu as expected, family members called the airport, Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman Kathleen Bergen said. Bergen said the flight had no contact with air traffic controllers.

The group was on a sightseeing flight that someone won as a door prize at a Gilmer High School class 50th reunion over the weekend.

”We’re all just shook up. We just have to wait, and we’re still waiting, said Randall Davidson, the brother of missing passenger Patricia Smith, 67.

Smith was on board with friends Woodie and Mattie Pierce, as well as fellow classmate and pilot Phil Key.

Shortly before the find, family members said they weren’t giving up hope.

”They’ve been without food and water for ostensibly 48 hours, so we’re trying to be realistic about our expectations, but we’re still hoping for the best, said Smith’s stepson.